Punctuation to the Rescue

by Cheryl Olsten

In this modern-day fable the distinct personalities of the four main characters come to life. Period, Comma, Exclamation Point, and

Question Mark—Punctuation to the Rescue is sure to capture children’s imaginations as they embark on a fun-filled adventure, while learning

basic punctuation through this very colorful and exciting story.



Exclamation Point is exasperated by how hard it is to do their job when they are so misused. The only way to get their “point” across is to leave! They decide that a sailing trip would be just the solution. Fresh sea air, new horizons to explore. Off to the Island of fun they go…until their sea voyage takes an unexpected turn.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

48 pages, Hardcover

Published October 30, 2024

About the author

Cheryl Olsten is the former publisher of two New Jersey magazines, New Jersey Life and New Jersey Life Health and Beauty. She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband. They have three married children, a bevy of wonderful grand babies, and an ever growing collection of picture books!

Reviews

[Rebecca Crunden]

This is a very cute little story about the importance of punctuation marks and how each one is used in a sentence but conveyed in a fun, colourful, wholesome way that young kids will likely enjoy! Each punctuation mark character brings to life their uses in a sentence - as in, Question asks questions, Comma pauses a lot, Exclamation exclaims a lot, etc. I thought the inclusion of old forgotten punctuation marks was a fun little ode, too.

Definitely a good, educational read for younger kids!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

[TAreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a thrilling adventure to join the Punctuation Marks on this journey! Cheryl Olsten's text is joyous and informative without being overwhelming to grasp! We learn the basics of how, where and why the four punctuations are used. The text reads along quite well with Sara Not's GORGEOUS illustrations!

Every page and spread has so many details you can take the time to look over and enjoy with your little one. The ISLAND OF CHAOS and how the chaos is visualised with words took my breath away. I flipped the pages back and forth multiple times just to go over all the details, animals, words, objects, and more.

A delightful story with beautiful illustrations!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

I absolutely love this book so much. The idea that all of the punctation marks think they are all overused and decide to go on vacation is so amazing! Writing would be total chaos without it. It's crazy enough when people don't use it during texting! On top of that, the illustrations were wonderful!

Would definitely recommend this!

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorable read! This is a great tool for any young child in the beginning stages of learning how to write. Very engaging and comical.

[Steff Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am just honestly so baffled by how much wasted potential this book has. It’s so abundant that I truly don’t even know what to begin with. It’s it the various plot points that are introduced and yet somehow go nowhere—what happened with this book that fell from the shelf? Why did we never come back to it? Was the sole purpose of this book simply to spit out disgruntled punctuation? Or is it the strange personification of the punctuation that drives the events of the story? Why are they fed up with their existences? Is that truly necessary to teach how punctuation works? What is achieved by the punctuation going on vacation?

Ugh, I just can’t help feeling like the goal of the book was great and the story in which the author chose to get to that goal was just an absolutely absurd mess.

I hated everything to do with the characters, the plot, and the settings of the islands of fun and chaos. I could not care less about the journey to get to the islands, the way words caused conflict, or the resolution that came about. It was all just so painful and ridiculous to the point that the only reason I have this book two stars instead of one is because the artwork was actually pretty phenomenal.

But the story was terrible, the manner in which it teaches punctuation just BARELY works, the writing is too advanced for a children’s book—once again, not for emerging readers—and the end of the story leaves the beginning fully unresolved. I don’t think kids are going to come away from this book understanding much at all about punctuation. They may have a vague idea of things, but I doubt this book would allow them to learn how to apply punctuation. And not only that, but it randomly introduces a fake punctuation?? Are you serious?

Sigh.

I won’t get into all the ideas I’m having at present about how I would fix this book, however, what I will say is that I don’t think we should have ever left the library and I don’t think the exhausted outrage about the purpose of the characters of punctuation’s existence was a good story choice to make. Olsten really missed the mark with this one.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle Ardillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! Illustrations are fun and the story will help reinforce the use of punctuation marks for early writers!

[Sarah Benham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, cute, honestly I laughed out loud. I want to give this to 7th graders every time they don’t use punctuation at all in their sentences!

[Booked 📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this courtesy of NetGalley - and I loved it. The artwork is beautiful, and the premise is great. It’s an adventure with an educational twist (that doesn’t come off as stiff or too in-your-face). The punctuation characters are cute, and the use of punctuation/grammar within their dialogue is fun. Kids will really like this one and hopefully even learn a little.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Review – Punctuation to the Rescue by Cheryl Olsten
👶 Age Range: Best for ages 5–8 (early elementary)
📖 Format: Children’s eBook with vibrant, full-color illustrations
🧠 Themes: Grammar basics, punctuation personalities, teamwork, story structure


👩‍👧‍👦 From the Parent’s Perspective
Punctuation to the Rescue has a clever premise: punctuation marks take a vacation from their book, and chaos ensues. It’s a fun way to introduce grammar concepts, and the illustrations are bright, bold, and engaging. My twins were immediately drawn in by the idea that punctuation could be characters with personalities and that they could just leave a story.

But as a parent (not a teacher!), I felt like the book missed a key opportunity. It never really explains why the story falls apart without punctuation. The marks vanish, the sentences get messy, and the characters panic but it doesn’t break down how each punctuation mark contributes to meaning, tone, or structure. For early learners, that’s a big gap. My twins had a lot of questions, and I found myself doing a lot of extra explaining to help them understand what was happening and why.

I also noticed that all the punctuation marks were the same color, which made it harder for my kids to distinguish between them. They’re still very early learners, so that might be part of the confusion but I could easily see other young readers picking up this book because the colors are so eye-catching, and then running into the same issue.


🧒 From the Kids’ Perspective
My twins thought the story was hilarious. They loved the idea of punctuation marks going on vacation and leaving the book in chaos. The shark chase scene was a favorite, and they were genuinely curious about what would happen next. They kept flipping pages and asking questions, which is always a good sign.

But they also got confused. Without clear visual differences between the punctuation marks, they struggled to follow who was who. And since the book didn’t explain why the story needed punctuation, they didn’t fully grasp the consequences of its absence. It was fun but it left them with more questions than answers

📚 Read-Aloud Considerations
As much as we enjoyed the book at home, I probably wouldn’t use it for a classroom or group read-aloud. The concept is clever, but it moves quickly and assumes a level of understanding that younger readers might not have yet. Without a clear explanation of how punctuation shapes a story, kids might laugh at the chaos but miss the deeper lesson.

At home, though? It works beautifully. You can pause, explain, and dive into what’s happening and why. It’s a great springboard for talking about grammar in a way that’s playful and engaging especially if you’re ready to fill in the gaps the book leaves behind.

🌟 Final Thoughts
Punctuation to the Rescue is a vibrant, imaginative take on grammar that turns punctuation into quirky, adventurous characters. It’s fun, fast-paced, and full of visual appeal. But for younger readers, especially early learners, it may need some extra scaffolding to truly land the lesson.

Best enjoyed one-on-one, where you can guide the conversation and help kids connect the dots. And if your little ones start arguing about exclamation points afterward? That’s punctuation power in action.

I received this ebook for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Chhavi Gandhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
📖 Genre: Children’s Educational Fiction
📅 Publication Date: October 30, 2024

📚 Summary:

In Punctuation to the Rescue, Cheryl Olsten brings punctuation marks to life in a delightful adventure that educates young readers about the importance of proper punctuation. The story begins in a lighthouse library where Exclamation Point, weary of being overused, convinces fellow punctuation marks — Comma, Period, and Question Mark — to embark on a much-needed vacation. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when they land on the Island of Chaos, a place where words run amok without proper punctuation. Realizing the disorder their absence has caused, the punctuation pals set out to restore order, teaching the island’s inhabitants the significance of their roles in structuring language.

🖋️ My Thoughts:

Cheryl Olsten masterfully combines education with entertainment in this charming tale.

✔ Engaging Characters: Each punctuation mark is personified with distinct traits — Exclamation Point’s exuberance, Comma’s thoughtful pauses, Period’s decisiveness, and Question Mark’s curiosity — making them relatable and memorable for young readers.

✔ Educational Value: The narrative cleverly introduces fundamental punctuation concepts, demonstrating how each mark contributes to clear communication. Children learn the roles of different punctuation marks through the characters’ adventures, reinforcing the importance of proper punctuation in a fun and accessible way.

✔ Vibrant Illustrations: Sara Not’s illustrations are lively and expressive, enhancing the story’s appeal. The visuals complement the text beautifully, capturing the personalities of the punctuation marks and the chaos of an unpunctuated world.

🔸 Minor Drawbacks:

▫ Complex Vocabulary: Some terms may be advanced for the youngest readers, but they provide opportunities for vocabulary expansion with adult guidance.

✨ Final Verdict:

Punctuation to the Rescue is a delightful blend of storytelling and education, making it an excellent resource for teaching children about punctuation. Cheryl Olsten’s creative approach, combined with Sara Not’s engaging illustrations, results in a book that is both informative and entertaining. It’s a valuable addition to any child’s library, especially for those beginning to explore the rules of writing.

📌 Recommended For:

✔ Children aged 3–6 who are starting to learn about punctuation.

✔ Parents and educators seeking an engaging tool to teach writing mechanics.

✔ Anyone who enjoys imaginative stories that personify everyday elements.

Embark on this whimsical journey with Period, Comma, Exclamation Point, and Question Mark, and discover how punctuation truly brings order to our words.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a book falls off a shelf it stirs the punctuation off the page (well, some of it – there were clearly no brackets or m-dashes present), and they go on strike, taking themselves off for a holiday together to get over their feeling of being under-appreciated. The quirk of them all is they use themselves in their speech, so Exclamation is always Shouting! Things!! and Question is forever using its own format, too. There's a major blip when you think Period is in peril, and someone still gets to use him, but they escape that problem and move on – to an island full of rampaging words. Have they found a place they'll be appreciated and used properly and heavily at last?

The feeling for me was that this could have been better. It's not without cleverness – the @ symbol is here as a monkey's tail, which is the name used for it in The Netherlands. But as I say the thing goofs in using Period when Period is thought gone for a Burton. It's also definitely US only – the British English doesn't call them exclamation points or periods. And the point of the story seems to be to use them well and well enough for them to be proud – but surely things might have been more pointed and more inventive when we saw the effect of not having them around? Here the book itself is an example of them being used in strong amounts and cleverly, but perhaps we should actually see them disappear, forcing us to appreciate them more due to their temporary absence?

Still, what we have is perfectly reasonable, even if without the clearest purpose. It's colourful and brisk enough to appeal. But it felt like a set of type that has been blunted with age – it didn't have the sharpest point to it.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

What punctuation mark would you be?

Perhaps you'd be direct like the period.

Or, maybe you'd prefer to weave longer, more complex sentences together like the comma.

Tell us!

Okay, that's it for my burst of "cleverness". Seriously, I admire the author for how well she was not only able to create distinct characters for the four basic punctuation marks but have each of them stick to their characteristic chatter. The illustrations were colorful and lively, with each character showing a unique personality and various reactions. Feeling unappreciated, they set out from their lighthouse library for a vacation on a fun island. Only one problem. Well, more than one. They run into a few sailing problems, including a nasty shark and wind up on the Island of Chaos instead. Why Chaos? There punctuation is ignored and words and creatures run amuck. Check out the various characters they meet, all shown running about creating mayhem. Seeing the chaos their absence can create, the four punctuation marks decide to stay long enough to restore order and, in the process, realize their own importance.

I enjoyed the story and have to admit to laughing aloud when Question Mark asked the age old question of "Are we there yet?" Definitely a unique way of introducing children to the importance of using correct punctuation. Although aimed at young readers, I can actually see where it might be a hit with young adult readers or, heck, adults, too. It's whimsical and full of quirky characters while sharing a teaching moment (or a few). A delightful combo of words and pictures. Thanks author #CherylOlsten and #FleecydalePress for sharing this with me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be sharing with teacher friends and others who might enjoy it.

[Papergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I launch into my review, I would like to say a huge thank you to Cheryl Olsten, Fleecydale Press and Netgalley for the Digital Reader Copy of this title. For anyone with their eye on this title, here is my personal review of the book to help you decide whether you are interested or not. All opinions offered are my own.

This is an absolutely wonderful, quirky book that demonstrates punctuation with a combination of showing and telling.

Four friieds, Eclamation Point, Period, Comma, and Question Mark decide to go on holiday to cure them,selves of their depression that is a direct consequence of feeling underused and appreciated. They decide to head to the Island of Fun and end up on Chaos Island where they meet Pilcrow who explains that punctuation has fallen by the wayside. With a little cajooling, the punctuation symbols work with words to see if they can bring order to the island. Only time will tell whether they are successful and at what cost.

I was thoroughly absorbed by thi book. What a novel idea and a wonderful example of how to use some of our most used punctuation marks. I loved that the story incorporated the explanation into the story and used all the different marks in the text as well as in the illustrations. One of the best planned and created books I have read in a while that took every point, every word, every picture and all the finer details into account. I would recommend this to children around the ages of 6-9 years old who are developing their writing skills. It will not produce young Shakespeares overnight, but it will give a basic foundation to set them on the right path.

This book is utterly deserving of 5 out of 5 stars!

[Candice Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Punctuation to the Rescue is one of the most quirky yet educational books I've read this year. Believe it or not, I am so thrilled to read a book about grammar, but specifically underappreciated punctuation. In the society we currently live in, punctuation seems to disappear with the advent of texting, emojis, and slang. So many writers in everyday communication act as if punctuation isn't important, but this picture book sure tells us that is not the case. As an English and Composition professor, I am happy to see an author discuss the importance and value of punctuation.

The author Cheryl Olsten really takes us on an adventure where we meet Comma, Period, Exclamation, and Question as book characters. What makes them come to life even more are the beautiful and colorful illustrations by Sara Not. I really enjoyed the sailing adventure they take to the Island of Chaos.

My only complaint is that the book was a bit longer than I expected so depending on the age range of the students/kids reading it is possible they may lose interest. However, them getting to the end gives them the best message and lesson of why we need and use punctuation.

I would definitely recommend this to 3rd-6th graders because they can understand punctuation in a better, fun way instead of doing exercises or busy work. It's always great when grammar is learned and used for premium effect.

4.5 stars

[Sentinelle23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️Extraordinary, funny, and magical!!


There was a beautiful bookstore located in a beautiful lighthouse along the beach.

Inside this bookstore, a book fell from a shelf and smashed to the floor.

A cry of pain escaped the pages of the book...

---------

A big crush for this great adventure of the punctuation agents to discover!

They are all cute, funny, and talkative...

A real treat to read!

The story is totally magical and extraordinary.

I was completely captivated and charmed!

So much suspense until the end!

I highly recommend it ❤️

###########################

❤️❤️Extraordinaire, drôle et magique !!

Il y avait unebelle librairie située dans un beau phare le long de la plage.

A l’intérieur de cette librairie, un livre tomba d’une étagère et s’écrasa au sol.

Un cri de douleur s’echappa des pages du livre...

----

Un grand coup de coeur pour cette grande aventure des agents de la ponctuation à découvrir !
Ils sont tous mignons , drôles et bavards...

Un vrai régal à lire !

L’histoire est totalement magique et extraordinaire.
J’ai été totalement captivée et charmée !

Que de suspense jusqu'à la fin!

Je recommande vivement ❤️

[Keshia R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read Punctuation to the Rescue and cannot wait to share it with my students. As a teacher, I am always looking for meaningful ways to connect reading and writing, and this book does exactly that. The story introduces punctuation marks in a fun and engaging way, helping students see how essential they are in making sentences clear and easy to understand.

Right now, my class is working on punctuation in our writing, so this book is the perfect fit. Students will be able to see punctuation marks in action within sentences, giving them a concrete example of how to use them correctly. I love that the book allows us to stop and examine individual sentences, noticing where periods, question marks, commas, and other punctuation marks belong.

This text makes grammar and mechanics come alive in a way that is accessible and enjoyable for students. My hope is that, after reading it together, my students will begin to carry these lessons over into their own writing. Punctuation to the Rescue is not only a wonderful read-aloud but also a valuable teaching tool that blends literacy skills across subjects.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous storytelling! A book falls off the shelf in the library during a storm and the punctuations fall out. Then they start to complain about those who use and misuse them and decide to take a vacation on the Island of Fun. But that isn't where they wind up! Great fun learning!
The illustrations by Sara Not are simple, imaginative and FUN in exploring what punctuation does using brilliant colors. Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital Galley on Thorium PDF from Cheryl Olsten | Fleecydale Press via NetGalley. *****review @saranot.illustration @ibpalovesindies
#PunctuationToTheRescue by @cherylolsten @greenleafbookgr @childrensbookcouncil @goodreads #picturebookart #kidlit #picturebook #illustration #childrensbooks #imagination #languagearts #bookbub #learning #learningisfun #learningthroughplay #childrensbooks #storytelling

[bookcookery]

At first glance (based on the cover art and title), I assumed Punctuation to the Rescue might somehow be related to Naughty Ninja Takes a Bath, with its tagline, “Ninja to the Rescue!” However, this book takes a decidedly different direction, focusing instead on a lesson in the use and necessity of punctuation.

Younger children who aren’t yet reading may miss the nuances of the punctuation marks, though they can still enjoy the story’s action and humor. Early readers, on the other hand, may find it both entertaining and informative, especially with the introduction of the pilcrow, a symbol not often encountered at this age.

That said, the examples for the comma felt a little weak, and the period’s “big reveal” was unfortunately tied to a sentence fragment. I also would have preferred to see appreciation for other rarely celebrated punctuation, like the ellipsis, rather than the invented “love point.”

Overall, this was an enjoyable one-time read with some educational value.

Thanks to Fleecydale Press and NetGalley for the advance reading copy.

[Jen (the.wanderingword) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contained everything I would have loved as a child - the illustrations are beautiful, brightly colored and the DETAILS. I cannot say enough good things about them - from the look on the punctuations' faces, to the things that were funny to me as an adult (like the Bay of Flamingos on the map) - this is a book that is sure to delight children and the adults reading to them.

The book is also thoughtfully written - although it may escape very young readers, each form of punctuation is used when that particular character is speaking or spoken about. I thought this was quite clever.

I love a children's book like this, that has educational value without feeling heavy handed. Cheryl Olsten strikes the perfect balance - you'll get so wrapped up in the punctuations' adventure that you won't even realize you're learning. I can't wait to buy a physical copy of this book and read it to my niece!

Thank you to NetGalley and Fleecydale Press for this eARC!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once upon a time, there was a lighthouse with a library. One night, a book falls from the library shelf, and all sorts of punctuation fall from the pages. And they are NOT happy. Exclamation Point feels overused, and Period and Comma feel underappreciated, so they decide to sail away to the island of fun. Along the way, they run into all sorts of conflicts. Still, eventually, they make their way to the island of Chaos. On this island, all sorts of words run amok because no punctuation lives there! Our little boat of punctuation comes to the rescue, where they then feel worthy of returning to the lighthouse and the book from which they tumbled.
A charming and funny way to learn about using punctuation. A wonderful addition to any classroom. In fact, I shared it with a friend of mine who works as Literacy Lead, and she purchased a copy for our grade 3 teachers!!

Thank you to Cheryl Olsen and Fleecydale Press and Netgalley for the copy.

[Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this was a great book, but it was a little bit lengthy for a kids' book. I found myself getting a bit lost halfway through before the story got back on track. I think the key to getting this book down to a more reasonable length would be removing the bit where Period falls into the water. I thought it didn't really add to the overall story, and it didn't serve any crucial purpose. However, every other plot point made sense, and helped the story move forward in a smooth fashion. As for the story itself: so clever! It's entertaining and, at the same time, it illustrates the importance of proper punctuation, and how we shouldn't take something that seems so simple for granted. Lastly, I adored how each punctuation mark had its own unique and distinct personality, even the "non-main" characters. Bravo!

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and factual picture book explaining and celebrating the importance of punctuation.

The colourful and quirky illustrations work well alongside this story, which is both entertaining and educational. The story captured the imagination of my children and cleverly introduced often-underappreciated punctuation and its purpose.

After a fun-filled adventure, order is restored with the help of excited Exclamation, curious Question Mark, the thoughtful pauses of Comma, and conclusive Period (or Full Stop as it is known in Australia).

With many thanks to Fleecydale Press, Cheryl Olsten and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review a digital review copy of this book.

This book would be an ideal resource for parents and teachers, to support young readers and explore punctuation in a fun and engaging way!

[Casey Densmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story about punctuation going on a "vacation" because they felt overused and unappreciated. On vacation they learn how important they really are and they meet some new friends. I think this book puts a fun spin on a skill that can be "boring" for kids. I like how the words on the island are illustrated to represent their meaning and make them fun. The illustrations are fun and colorful. The punctuation marks go on a fun adventure that I think kids would really enjoy....the shark, tsunami, Island of Chaos....all things kids are interested in. I think this book would be a great addition to any library - personal or classroom. I know it will be added to mine!

Thank you Cheryl Olsten and Fleecydale Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

[Kristi Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Punctuation to the Rescue begins with Exclamation Point, Period, Comma, and Question Mark falling out of a book when a strong wind blows through the windows of a lighthouse library. At once, they are all upset ranting and raving about being overused and underappreciated. So the four friends decide to leave and go on a vacation. Of course, their adventure isn’t the escape they hoped. They battle against a Tsunami and encounter a shark before arriving to a small island. An island littered and overtaken with forgotten symbols and texts like Pilgrow. The four friends decide to put their efforts to reorganizing the chaos, realizing how lucky they are to be appreciated after all.

Punctuation to the Rescue is full of color and surprises!

Thank you to Netgalley and Fleecydale Press for a copy of this book.

Punctuation to the Rescue is out now-go check it out!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother of two here! This book was perfect for my 2nd grader who is working on improving her punctuation and story-telling. Cheryl Olsten does a wonderful job, as the context was perfect for my 8-year-old to interpret and explain to me. This adorable story reminded us of The Day The Crayons Quit. The illustrations were so creative, as the punctuation set sail to reach Island of Fun but ended up on the Island of Chaos. The word animals were so fun, my kids loved it! Anything with animals is a hit in our household. We really enjoyed this unique story and beautiful illustrations. We will definitely recommend this to our daughter’s 2nd grade teacher!

Thank you to NetGalley and Fleecydale Press for this eARC!

[Book Dragon Kids · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cover sold me. I loved the ease of reading the facial expressions on the characters. I have to be honest, I don’t love the font of the words on the inside of the book. I was hoping for something a bit more fun like on the cover. The font was too small and felt too close together. It didn’t feel organic like the cover did. I did however love the illustrations. They were colorful and detailed and creative; especially the island of chaos. The story was silly, with the punctuation using phrases that they would be used in which was clever. In the end I enjoyed the book but wish there was more thought on the words looked on the page that made the story.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, this my honest opinion.

[Inga Hein Andree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Cheryl Olsten, and the publisher for allowing me to preview this title in exchange for an honest review.

I read this with my 6yr old. The illustrations were very bright and fun. I liked how the punctuations spoke in their function (the exclamation point was excited, the question mark on spoke in questions, and so on). However, that is really where the praise ends. It was a fairly boring story that didn't make much sense. The island that the punctuation had to save didn't flow and, truthfully, I didn't understand. So it was 100% lost on a smart 6 yr old. I feel that the author did not fully understand their audience. It was cute with punctuation speaking but the story was confusing.

[Krista Galley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilariously silly and grammatically exciting! When punctuation feels underappreciated and overworked they take a vacation. It’s a harrowing adventure with exclamation, comma, period and question. What begins as a vacation turns into a rescue operation to help chaos find order. Personally I loved the surprise guest appearance by Pilcrow! Plus the introduction of a potential future new punctuation?!

As I read this book I immediately wanted to share it with several family members aside from my children! This is a book that will be loved by many ages, especially those who have a particular fondness for grammar!

Please, don’t forgot proper punctuation and go get this book for your home library!

Thank you @NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of this book! What a fun read!

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a book falls from a shelf, some of the punctuation inside decide to go on holiday to ease their hurt feelings. Question mark, period and comma set off on a mad adventure that leads them to an island of chaos.

The illustrations were cute and the text playful, but the intended age of audience was unclear to me. The text was word heavy and dense and didn't match the pictures that seemed appropriate for very young readers. I wish that the ideas of each punctuation mark would be fleshed out more clearly and that the story ended in a different way. Interesting concept. I'm sure teachers might love it for a quick read aloud, but it didn't reach its full potential.

Thank you to Fleecydale Press, Cheryl Olsten and Netgalley for a digital ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorable book with delightful illustrations which managed to communicate the importance of punctuation in a wonderful manner.

I thoroughly enjoyed this children’s book where the punctuation marks develop personalities of their own and go on a grand adventure when they’re feeling unappreciated. I loved the illustrations of the residents of the island they land on, especially the words which made me laugh. I immediately wanted to show the book to my friends and family so they could delight in the images as well.

The plot was very cute, and particularly relevant in an era of texting where punctuation isn’t as highly used as it might have been previously. I will definitely continue to think of these punctuation characters for a long time. Would definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.